To Begin…

Welcome to Mel’s Curiosity Shoppe! I’m an educator who loves designing jewellery with quirky, unusual slants – why be boring? This is a little hobby I indulge in to keep stress levels down  

All prices listed are currently in Singapore dollars. Accepted methods of payment include POSB/DBS/UOB ATM/I-banking and Paypal for international buyers. Meet-ups (local) are available at specific locations and times only.

To order, either comment on the sales post or email me at paigealexis@gmail.com !

JOIN MY MAILING LIST HERE

I am a proud member of SRAJD!

One World One Heart Giveaway

This is my first time participating in the One World One Heart Blog Giveaway! The thought of being a real part of an international crafting community absolutely thrills me!

Do visit the little nooks and corners of my Shoppe, take the time to browse the selection of lovingly crafted jewellery, and get inspired to bring a little more beauty to your lives!

To encourage you all to comment, I’m going to give away a SGD25 e-voucher (worth USD18.00 in store credit) to my shop. You can purchase anything with it – use it for a gift or buy something for yourselves! A second winner will receive a ’surprise’ handmade piece of jewellery – it could be a necklace, earrings, ring, bookcharm, bracelet or even a handsewn clutch… let me surprise you! International and local visitors are all welcome! Below is one of the pieces up for grabs – a vintage porcelain cab with a unique brass leaf backing – lovely as a pendant or brooch!

My giveaway is open to everyone who comments on this blog post – if you’ve not visited my site and you’re unfamiliar with WordPress just click on the ‘Leave a reply’ link at the end of this post! The date for comments begins today (Feb 8th) and ends Feb 15th. On Feb 15th I will draw two names from the comments out of a box and contact the winners!

So do stop by, leave a comment, a photo link, or a link to your own website so I can return the favour, and just have fun!

 

The low-down on what’s up

A crafty update is coming soon, I promise!

Had to get that out of my system – been supremely busy at work and there’s been hardly any time to work on new creations. It’s been mostly filling customization requests and doing home sales, which are all well and good of course. No complaints there though I really do wish I had more time to work on all my crafty pleasures. Still, in pragmatic Singapore, that doesn’t work for a gal who likes the occasional indulgence, so it’s off to work I go every day!

Good news for those who signed up for my original mailing list of handsewn clutches – they’ll be back really soon, in prettier designs at cheaper prices. Dusted off my sewing machine and did up a dozen more designs – currently sewing on lace and other embellishments. The projected re-launch happens in March, so do watch this space.

Here’s to lazy days and Mondays that don’t get us down!

 

What’s new in the Shoppe

New and fabulous necklaces for an equally fabulous you!

Updated in sections:

Mel’s Signature Wirework

Classic With A Twist

Fairies and Other Fantastic Creatures

Falling In Love

Quite excited about some of these pieces – can you guess which ones are my faves?

Some pretty bracelets coming up next!

What’s new in the Shoppe

It has been a fairly busy two weeks for me since school reopened – meetings, classes, planning and the usual shebang that comes along with it. Haven’t had much time to work on my Shoppe, but here are some of the latest additions, including some ‘vintage’ Mel’s designs harking back to pre-wirework days!

Sections that have been updated:

Earrings
Quirky Chic
Fairies & Other Fantastic Creatures
Falling In Love
Classic With A Twist
Everything’s Coming Up Cameos, and of course…
Mel’s Signature Wirework

Have a beautiful week ahead!

2009-2010

I thought that there is no better way to reflect upon one’s achievements for the year than to do a checklist. So here’s mine:

1. Raise my professional profile and get promoted.
2. Apply for my postgraduate studies.
3. Increase public awareness for the Shoppe.
4. Go for many, many, many bazaars.
5. Exponential growth in sales and site hits.
6. Participate in and complete a 10km run.
7. Become engaged to the man God has chosen for me.
8. Be more involved in church.
9. Spend more time with loved ones.
10. Be happy.

I’m not in the habit of making a list of goals, but in at the end of 2010, I look forward to producing a list that will beat the one above.

Life is beautiful only because I believe it can be.

New baubles for 2010

2010 began quite nicely with decent home sales – I hope these will continue up till June, as I doubt I’ll have very much time for flea marketing and bazaar hopping. This year I have many things lined up, not in the least preparations for my postgraduate studies and wedding – yes, D proposed over Christmas with a beautiful ring from Larry’s Jewellery.

- so I think I will be relying a lot on Etsy and word-of-mouth to boost sales. I’ll be doing a little website shifting (not to worry, this site will still remain active!) over to Etsy and maybe Artfire, so that it’ll be easier for sales transactions when I’m overseas. WordPress will still be updated but I will make listings on Etsy for interested buyers as well. Still in the planning process so I’ll keep y’all posted!  

Anyway, meant to upload this last month but was just too busy! So here they go into the 2010 presentation!

A sampling of new polymer clay earrings which are so fabulously lightweight and pretty, your ears will thank you – retailing only at The Coalition Store in The Heeren Shops.  These clay beads are from a new artist, Patricia, and they are really gorgeous. These are also really limited in supply – while I tend to order at least half a dozen of each design from other artists, Pat sells her beads in pairs and once sold, most of these beads won’t pop up in any other designs I have!

Some new designs in the Shoppe – some of have already been snapped up by home buyers who were fortunate enough to get a sneak preview! Check out the Earrings section for details.

Coming up next – new wirework rings and necklaces!

Have a wonderful week!

A little note

Ok. So the last post wasn’t the last one for 2009. This one is – I just emailed my mailing list and thought I’d share it with everyone else who isn’t on it.

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Dear all,

As an indie designer, I love getting to know other independent designers and sharing experiences. Recently, I met someone who said the perfect quote: “Handmade items appeal to trend setters, not trend followers.” Beautiful, and so true. 2009 has been a wonderful year of learning for me, and even as the local market floods with online blogshops that repeat designs and materials, I take pride in knowing that whatever I create, I create with the intention of being truly one-of-a-kind (an oft-overused phrase said by those who import mass collections from Korea to sell at exorbitant prices). That is why I make the effort to source all over time and space for quality supplies which are literally handmade or vintage, so that your finished piece is indeed your very own. At the same time, I keep my profit margin really, really low – so many of you have commented that I underprice my items (what a nice surprise!) – so more people will be able to own a really unique piece, and the little crafting community (passion, not profit, drives us) in Singapore can be kept vibrant through your support.

In 2010, before I leave for my postgraduate studies in September, I would like to explore a new venture that will bring more of my designs to your doorstep and that is holding jewellery parties – a la Tupperware style.

If you are interested in holding a personal jewellery party at your home for your friends, please contact me at paigealexis@gmail.com . I will bring a selection of designs including new pieces fresh from the workshop and not online so you and your friends get first dibs! Some custom work (depending on intricacy) can also be done, so you can custom-make your pieces on the spot! As a host, you will be entitled to receive a 10% commission on total sales (minimum $200 in sales) which you can redeem in cash or kind! If more than $350 in sales is made, I will custom make a piece of jewellery for you absolutely FREE (valued at $50), in addition to your 10% commission. Isn’t that great?? You get to hang out with friends, shop and earn money all in the comfort of your own home, plus you get to own beautiful, unique designs that are made especially for you. Bookings must be made one month in advance.

I am very excited at the prospect of meeting more of my customers and making new friends, so I do hope to hear from you.

Happy 2010 and may your year be a blessed and happy one!

Wirework rings

This will probably be my final post of 2009 – I really need to sit down with my books and lesson plans instead of being distracted by beadmaking!

I’ve finally found something to do with that huge polymer clay bead stash I’ve been hoarding! D keeps nagging me about all the beads I buy because they’re pretty that end up sitting in drawers and boxes not moving anywhere for months! But I eventually get down to making something lovely out of them… sooner or later.

So these pretty little things featured below are going to be sold at the Coalition Store (like all my wirework, these are one-off pieces only), but don’t fret because I’ve saved some for sale here as well! In fact, Rachel and Sharon (two of my Loyal Hedonists) came by the other day and custom-made a few on the spot, which the rest of you are definitely welcome to do as well – just drop me an email!

Here are the babies that will be available on my site – the aerial view isn’t much I know, but the wonderful flexibility of the ring bands allows practically anyone to wear them!

A closer view from another angle:

If you’re interested in purchasing any of these sweethearts, check out the Wirework Rings section for prices and details!

Festive cheer

Merry Christmas everyone!

Mel’s Curiosity Shoppe has been getting hits in the thousands every month since the site launched, and it’s all thanks to all of you wonderful supporters of everything original, artsy and crafty!

As a token of appreciation, I’m extending the 10% Storewide Sale till January 15th, with a complimentary, unique handmade polymer clay necklace for all single purchases over $150 (after discount)! You can get your friends to make up the total as well!

Don’t forget the ongoing Friends’ Promotion where you get $10 off your next purchase when you recommend a friend!

Loyal Hedonists (check out Membership to see if you qualify), please drop me an email with your name and mailing address at paigealexis@gmail.com to receive a special gift for the extra-special-super-duper-fabulous patronage of my Shoppe so far!

Happy holidays and lots of festive cheer!

Little gifts

A very small holiday project for some of my friends’ and relatives’ daughters.  Polymer clay focals are strung with seed beads making a cheerful and fun necklace!

@ only $15 each, this is an affordable gift for young girls or an office gift exchange!

If you are interested in your own polymer clay necklace, select the design of polymer clay bead you want from the collection below and drop me a comment or email!